St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-23
LABOR NOTES.
Matters of Interest to Employers And
Employed.

Despite the increase in immigration
there is here and there scarcity of labor
The mines afford employment for all The
mills on iron, steel and textile goods are al
busy except a small percentage of wooden
mills. Factory labor is fully employed. and
additional labor is dropping in from Canada
and abroad. Common labor is also in demand
and at better wages than have been paid for
years. The labor papers throughout the
country are very indifferently supported, and
the reason is that there are too many of them
of poor quality. If they had the merit they
should have, support would come. There is
less rushing to and fro of labor this year than
for many years past. Wages have been pretty
well eQualized, and under the system of CORE
spondence now kept up no time need be lost in
seeking employment.
The lumber manufacturers In the
Northwest have scarcely had time to let their
saws cool. The Pennsylvania hemlock people
are very busy, and green stuff that has pound
of water to the foot is being crowded into con-
sumption because builders cannot wait for it
to dry. Enormous quantities of yellow pine
have been arriving, and sawmill machinery
makers say they have more orders for ma
chinery than ever before. The band saw is in
the lead everywhere.
In labor quarters there is some little
chagrin over the rather frequent strike fail
ures. Combinations have not produced the
anticipated results in all cases because impossi-
BILE results were anticipated. Lecturers are
arousing enthusiasm in the West. especially
where the membership has broader and more
intelligent conception of the aims and capaci-
ties of organizations to advance the common
veal.
This years railroad construction, &C
cording to present indications. will reach 1900
miles of main track. There are 100000 miles of
track in the world. Last year the average of
haul on railroads in the United States was
twenty-three miles per head. Seven tons of
freight were carried per head of population.
Pennsylvania is second on the list in passenger
transportation.
The permits Issued In several of the
larger Western cities outside of Chicago show
that the season will be a very busy one all
through, and that building material will be firm
in price, except nails. Real estate speculation
has fallen off under the offerings of a great
deal of property, owners of which were more
anxious for cash than for land.
There are rumors in railroad circles
that the orders for locomotive engines that
will be probably placed this fall will equal in
number the amount ordered during the past
twelve months. Machinery makers are
crowded with orders for machines and power
and tools to go into the new Southern and
Western railroad shops.
The Cohoes on. ~ spinners and
weavers were reduced ten per cent. in 1884. and
although everything has advanced they are
still at the old wages. They average from 81 so
to 90 less than is earned at Fall River. Those
on sheetings average Sc 90 with six looms;
those on prints, eight looms, Sc r..
The German cutlery and hardware
manufacturers are SURPRISING the wooden nut
meg Yankees by putting American names, 800
in all, on their inferior and low-priced cutlery,
with which they invade English and CONT
mental markets, to the surprise and disgust of
the American cutlerymaker.
A great deal of textile machinery has
been contracted for during the second quarter
of the year for New England and Southern
mills, and the textile machinery makers In
Pennsylvania are very busy.
The New England manufacturers of
cotton goods count up their six months profits
at ten per cent. more than last year, and think
they see business enough to keep every loom
busy until the holidays.
There are or were seven district assem-
blies in and around New York city which had
a membership last fall of S0,352. The member
ship is now 10000.
During the first half Of 1886 $63, 617, 500
were invested in the fourteen Southern States
For the first half of 1887 the amount was $751;
$4,000.
It is alleged by labor leaders that 10000
persons have been permitted to land in twelve
months in violation of the law against contract
labor.
The coke-workers lost in wages up to
June 8, $sss, $50. The decreased output of coke
was $4,000 tons.
During June 10000 men struck against
"A s1s men in May and against 10000 for same
month last year.
The Kentucky Knights of Labor pro-
,se to poll from 10000 to 10000 votes in that
State.